General Atomics

NCA investigation leads to Border Force seizing £1m at Heathrow

As a result of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, a man has been charged with money laundering after the seizure of £1 million in suitcases by the UK's Border Force at Heathrow Airport.



Image courtesy NCA

Mazen Al Shaar, 48, was stopped by Border Force officers on Saturday and the money was seized.

Al Shaar, from Hayes, Middlesex, was due to fly to Beirut. He appeared at appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday. A bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on the 17th April for a pre-trial plea hearing.

Andy Noyes, NCA branch commander, said: “So many of the serious and organised crime threats facing the UK are driven by offenders’ desire for money.

“This detection of £1 million was because of brilliant work by Border Force officers which has now sparked our investigation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This seizure highlights Border Force’s dedicated efforts to protect our borders and keep the public safe. Our officers are trained to spot suspicious behaviour and identify attempts to move illicit cash and other prohibited items across our borders.

"We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the NCA to disrupt criminal networks."

Related

Eaton opens UK aerospace additive manufacturing centre
Eaton facility, Wimborne.
Eaton opens UK aerospace additive manufacturing centre
The new facility will deliver production-ready capabilities to support localised production-scale additive manufacturing in Europe for the aerospace and defence sectors.
Aviation Pride UK launches The APUK Scholarship
Aviation Pride UK (APUK)
Aviation Pride UK launches The APUK Scholarship
A new scholarship scheme will help people pursue opportunities across the aviation sector and fund their aviation futures.
Aerospace

3 Aug 2026

easyJet takeover deadline brings airline ownership rules into focus
EasyJet Airbus A321
easyJet takeover deadline brings airline ownership rules into focus
With two US-backed bidders considering firm offers, easyJet’s future may depend as much on complex ownership and control rules as it does on price.
Aerospace Most Read

3 Aug 2026

Why the UK’s new Brontanax CCA has to use American engines
Brontanax BAE Systems
Why the UK’s new Brontanax CCA has to use American engines
BAE may now design its Brontanax loyal wingman drone with US engines after Rolls-Royce's options were deemed too expensive.
Defence Most Read

3 Aug 2026

Eaton opens UK aerospace additive manufacturing centre
Eaton facility, Wimborne.
Eaton opens UK aerospace additive manufacturing centre
The new facility will deliver production-ready capabilities to support localised production-scale additive manufacturing in Europe for the aerospace and defence sectors.
UK commits £8.4bn to launch next production phase of Dreadnought submarine programme
Royal Navy Dreadnought submarine
UK commits £8.4bn to launch next production phase of Dreadnought submarine programme
The UK has committed £8.4 billion to the next production phase of the Dreadnought-class submarine, its long-term nuclear deterrent.
Defence

31 Jul 2026

AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
UK From Space-Telecom
AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
Flight-proven 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) tech from Southampton based AccelerComm, is supporting a scalable direct-to-device and broadband architecture from Starlink veterans behind Eclipse Space.
Member News Space

31 Jul 2026

ALL.SPACE releases Hydra MAX wideband platform for multi-orbit ops
Hydra on Defender
ALL.SPACE releases Hydra MAX wideband platform for multi-orbit ops
ALL.SPACE has released Hydra MAX, designed to unlock next-generation wideband Ka networks with multi-orbit connectivity.
Defence Space

28 Jul 2026

Wiltshire schoolchildren take second place in international rocketry final
Abbeyfield School 2nd Place
Wiltshire schoolchildren take second place in international rocketry final
Schoolchildren from Chippenham achieved second place at the International Youth Rocketry Challenge during the Farnborough International Airshow.
Aerospace Defence Events Security ...

27 Jul 2026

QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
CyberFirst Advanced at Lancaster University
QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
Hundreds of youngsters have been given the opportunity to equip themselves with real-world cyber skills.
Why drones have become a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Ministry of defence drone
Why drones have become a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Latest Dedrone report reveals why drone incidents are a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Aerospace Security

29 Jul 2026

UK and partners warn of zero-click phishing campaign targeting Western organisations
NCSC warns of Laundry Bear phishing
UK and partners warn of zero-click phishing campaign targeting Western organisations
The UK and partners have exposed a new ‘zero-click’ phishing campaign, warning that Russian state-supported actors are using it to target Western organisations.
Security

28 Jul 2026